The salvation of
the soul is probably the most misunderstood
concept in Christianity today. This may sound
incredible, since virtually every church-going
Christian thinks that his understanding of soul
salvation is correct, but only a handful of
Christians has bothered to check out the
Scriptures to see what soul salvation really
means. It matters not what preachers say about
soul salvation, if the Scriptures say something
different. Spirit and soul are not the same in
the Bible. The following Scripture clearly
establishes that soul and spirit are not the
same:1 Th 5:23 (KJV) And the very God of
peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your
whole spirit
and souland body be
preserved
blameless
unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.This confirms
that man is a triune being, just as God is a
Trinity. It also helps to confirm that spirit
salvation differs from soul salvation. Spirit
salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ plus
nothing. The following Scripture about Paul and
Silas confirms this:Acts 16:30-31 (KJV) (30) And (the
Philippian jailer) brought them out, and said,
Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (31) And
they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.Spirit
salvation is very simple. One simply believes
that Jesus Christ died for his sins. One can do
nothing to earn this salvation. It is a gift
from God, and the Holy Spirit even provides the
faith. However, the Scriptures go into great
detail regarding soul salvation, which should
occur after spirit salvation. The
Scriptures are also clear that effort or
striving is necessary for soul salvation. The
following Scripture confirms this:James 1:21 (KJV) Wherefore lay apart
all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness,
and receive with meekness the engrafted word,
which is
able to save your souls.James 1:21 (ASV 1901)
Wherefore putting away all filthiness and
overflowing of wickedness, receive with meekness
the implanted word, which is able to save your
souls.This Scripture
is addressing believers and it states that a
believer can save his soul by getting rid of sin
in his life and studying and obeying the Bible.
This requirement differs from Acts 16:30-31. Spirit
salvation andsoul salvation are not
the same.The difference
between spirit salvation and soul salvation is
the difference between grace and works. The
spirit is saved by faith in Jesus Christ, while
the soul is saved by faithfulness to Jesus
Christ. Soul salvation does not determine
whether a person enters heaven, but it does
determine his reward in heaven. Some Christians
will enter heaven with no reward because of
unfaithfulness to Jesus. The following Scripture
confirms this:1 Cor 3:13-15 (KJV) (13) Every man's
work shall be made manifest: for the day shall
declare it, because it shall be revealed by
fire; and the fire shall try every man's work
of what sort it is. (14) If any man's work
abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall
receive a reward. (15) If any man's work shall
be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he
himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.The following
Scripture also confirms that soul salvation is
the result of works:1 Pet 1:7-9 (KJV) (7) That the trial of
your faith, being much more precious
than of gold that perisheth, though it be
tried with fire, might be found unto praise
and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus
Christ: (8) Whom having not seen, ye love; in
whom, though now ye see him not, yet
believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and
full of glory: (9) Receiving the end of your
faith, even the salvation of your souls.This Scripture
is addressed to believers who have faith that
has matured, and when tested at the return of
Jesus, will be found to be as precious as gold
resulting in praise, honor and glory from the
Lord Jesus Christ. This results in the saving of
their souls or reward for being faithful.In the
following Scripture, Jesus explains the
requirement for soul salvation:Mat 16:24-27 (KJV) (24) Then said Jesus
unto his disciples, If any man will come after
me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross, and follow me. (25) For whosoever will
save his life (psuche) shall lose it: and
whosoever will lose his life (psuche) for my
sake shall find it. (26) For what is a man
profited, if he shall gain the whole world,
and lose his own soul (psuche)? or what shall
a man give in exchange for his soul (psuche)?
(27) For the Son
of man shall come in the glory of his
Father with his angels; and then he shall
reward every man according to his works.Please note
that the Greek word for life and soul is the
same word psuche throughout this
passage of Scripture. Jesus is telling His
disciples about soul salvation and how it
determines their reward for successfully
crucifying the old flesh nature. This passage of
Scripture clearly establishes that soul
salvation is according to works.Spirit and soul
are not the same. The soul is what a
person is in regard to his character or his
person. It is possible for a person to be
totally changed as a person and in
character. The reason for this is that the
soul is a person's mind, emotions, intellect,
will and heart. It is what kind of person
he is in life. This is why the Greek word
psuche is
alternately translated as life or soul.It is possible
for a person to lose his soul in this life and
be a totally different person. This happens when
a person lives according to his new spirit
nature, which never sins (1 John 3:9), instead
of his old flesh nature, which can do nothing
good. Therefore, the Christian who loses his
soul in order to save it is the faithful,
spiritual Christian who will receive a reward at
the Judgment Seat of Christ when the Christian's
works will be tried by fire. The souls of
Christians who continued to live according to
their old flesh nature will be lost (i.e., they
will perish or be destroyed), and they will
receive no reward. Their spiritsówhich are
born of Godówill still be saved, and they will
still receive a redeemed body. The
redeemed body will live in complete submission
to the spirit, so the soul (i.e., personality,
character and mind) of these believers will be
totally different in heaven. Their souls will
perish, but they will be completely and totally
redeemed.There will be
Christians who will be disqualified as the Bride
of Christ, and they will lose their inheritance
as a coheir with Jesus Christ. They will still
be in heaven, and they will be totally forgiven
for all their sins. Christians who had lived
their lives as gluttons will no longer be
gluttons. Christians who had lived lives as
busybodies and gossips will no longer be that
way. Christians who were liars will no longer be
liars. Christians who were pharisaical and
self-righteous will no longer be that way.In like manner,
Christians who were drunkards will no longer be
drunkards. Christians who were homosexuals will
no longer be homosexual. Christians who were
adulterers will no longer be adulterers.
Christians caught up in seeking after wealth and
material possessions will no longer be worldly
minded. All of these Christians will have
lost their souls, but they will have new souls.
Simply stated, their lives will be totally
different, but they will have no positions of
honor and glory in the millennial kingdom of
Jesus Christ.